Join Among Other Things and NY Women in Film & Television for an evening exploring how film shapes our understanding of womanhood and motherhood through insights from industry leaders across film, television, and publishing. The panel will examine how media representations silently influence family dynamics, workplace expectations, and the messages our children absorb about gender roles. The narratives we consume establish powerful templates affecting how we navigate our identities as women who are mothers, among many other things. Join us as we build a community of informed consumers ready to advocate for authentic representation.
Speakers include Monica Castillo (New York City Critic & Film Programmer), Nicola Kraus (NY Times #1 Best-Selling Author, The Nanny Diaries), Easmanie Michel (NY Women In Film & Television), and Autumn Moran (Cinematographer & Camera Operator).
Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Time: 6:00pm ET
Location: Union Square Ventures (817 Broadway)
Price: $35 Pre-Sale Ticket until Oct 1 / Regular price: $45 (Includes drinks & lite bites)
Please note: You will be prompted to Venmo or Zelle your registration fee to Among Other Things after completing your registration.
Speakers:
Monica Castillo is a critic and film programmer based in New York City. Her curatorial work has appeared at the Jacob Burns Film Center and the Paley Center for Media, and her journalism and criticism has appeared in NPR, the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Colorado Public Radio, KCRW, RogerEbert.com, The Wrap, Remezcla, Elle Magazine, Mashable, and Vulture among others. She is a member of the New York Film Critics Circle, Critics Choice Association, and National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Nicola Kraus co-authored The Nanny Diaries, which became an international #1 best-seller selling over 6 million copies in 32 languages and inspiring the movie starring Scarlett Johansson & Alicia Keys. In addition to co-authoring 9 more novels, Nicola has contributed to The London Times, The New York Times, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Town & Country, and others. In 2015 she co-founded the creative consulting firm The Finished Thought, which helps the next generation of aspiring authors find their voice and audience. The Best We Could Hope For is her first solo novel.
Easmanie Michel manages NYWIFT’s fiscal sponsorship program; works closely with NYWIFT’s CEO and treasurer on the monthly profit and loss statement and annual budget; handles the day-to-day tasks of recording financial transactions; works with the Finance Controller on reconciliations and the yearly audit; co-produces the Muse Awards and Designing Women; coordinates the Animation Series; and curates the Immigrant Screening Series. Easmanie has worked continuously in the film and television industry since 2004. She worked in the production office for the feature films Transporter and Miami Vice. She worked as the location assistant on the film Hoot. She worked as the assistant production coordinator on TV Series Miami Ink. She also worked on TV show Burn Notice and CSI: Miami. Easmanie is currently producing the feature Caroline’s Wedding, which she co-wrote. The script was a finalist for the New York University Fusion Film Festival and it was also one of the scripts selected to participate in the Women at Sundance Financing and Strategy Intensive in 2016. In February of 2018 the script was the Grand Prize Winner of the American Zoetrope Screenplay Contest. The script was also a finalist for the New Renaissance London Film Festival in 2021. Easmanie also received the New York Council on the Arts Individual Artist grant for Caroline’s Wedding. She has MA in Cinema Studies from New York University and and she is currently completing a Certificate in Financial Accounting at NYU. A list of Easmanie’s production credits can be found at https://pro.imdb.com/name/nm1890668
Autumn Moran is a New York based Cinematographer and Camera Operator. She developed a passion for cinematography and the craft of visual storytelling while working in advertising. She delves into each new story she lenses, and seeks to find the emotional essence within the action. She credits a childhood immersed in sports, specifically gymnastics, with her appreciation of how the body moves through space, and therefore the frame.
Since beginning her career as a DP, she has shot various commercials, music videos and narrative projects. Clients include Uniqlo, Hulu and Planned Parenthood among others. On the narrative front, recent work HOME AT NIGHT (dir. Allison Geller) premiered at NY Short Fest and short film, AMONG THE LOST, was a ASC Heritage award nominee. She has also acted as 2nd Unit DP on Tubi Original narrative feature HIDDEN EXPOSURE directed by Todd Boggin and DP’d by Barbie Leung.
In addition to her DP work, Autumn has operated on HOCUS POCUS 2: BLACK FLAME, EVIL, THE REMIX (Tribeca Film Festival 2019), and HALF THE PICTURE (Sundance, SXSW 2018) among others.
Autumn was a recipient of the SOC mentorship program, as well as Local 600’s Inaugural mentorship program, of which she now sits on the committee. Additionally, she is a co-chair of the Local 600’s Eastern Region Women’s Committee. When she is not on set, she volunteers for the New York Junior League. And whenever possible, can be found at the beach.
Co-Presented with:
*Photos courtesy of Among Other Things
Union Square Ventures
817 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
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NYWIFT programs, screenings and events are supported, in part, by grants from New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
